Steady-state junction current distribution in p-n GaN diodes measured using low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM)

We report on the measurement of the lateral distribution of the junction current of an electrical biased p-n GaN diode by electron emission microscopy using a low-energy electron microscope. The vacuum level at the surface of the diode was lowered by deposition of cesium to achieve negative electron affinity, allowing overflow electrons at the surface of the biased diodes to be emitted and their spatial distribution imaged. The results were compared to the literature, and a good match with analytical solutions by Joyce and Wemple [J. Appl. Phys. 41, 3818 (1970)] was obtained.